Folding-chair hinge



Aug; 23,1927. 1,639,723

o H. COL .E 4 I FOLDING cgAIn HINGE Filed Sept. 15. 1925 uvcurcr 0. H. C016,

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNETED STATES ORIN H. COLE, OF ASHLANID, OREGON.

FOLDING-CHAIR HINGE.

Application filed September 15, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs, and particularly one which is simple in construction, and may be manufactured' at a relatively small cost.

An object of the invention resides in providing a folding chair wherein pairs of cross legs are pivotally connected at their central portions, and have a seat hingedly connected to the upper forwardly extending end of one leg of each pair, while the upper rearwardly extending end of the other leg of each pair hingedly carries the back for the chair and also a supporting plate for the rear edge of the seat provided with means for retaining the seat in connection therewith which is retained in position by the weight of the user on the seat, while suitable connecting means are hingedly connected with the back of the seat at the side portions thereof, and the upper end portions of the legs extending forwardly to which the seat is hinged.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a folding seat or chair wherein the same may be extended or folded by grasping the forward edge of the seat and the upper edge of the back which moves toward each other in the folding of the chair and away from each other in the unfolding thereof, which seat and back have the free ends of pivoted legs attached thereto, while the back of the seat has a connection with the legs attached to the seat por tion for folding the legs in the folding operation of the back with respect to the seat.

The invention comprehends other objects and improvements in the details of construcion and arrangement of parts which are more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description and claimed, directed to a preferred form of the invention, being understood however that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts together with the details in connection thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawing forming part of this application:

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of the improved chair forming the subject matter of this invention in extended or seat forming relation.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the chair as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of a Serial No. 56,503.

portion of one of the legs and the side of the back showing the fitting for hingedly connecting the back and the legs which also forms a means for supporting and retaining the rear end of the seat in assembled relation in seat forming position.

The numeral 1 indicates the forwardly extending leg, and 2 the rearwardly extending leg of a pair, two pairs of which are used to form the supporting leg structure of the improved folding chair. These legs are pivotally connected at 3 by a suitable pin or the like, extending through the central portion of each leg. The leg 1 at the opposite sides of the chair are secured together by a bar 1 at the lower rear end, while the legs 2 are secured together by the bar 5 so that the corresponding legs of each pair are moved together. The upper ends of the legs 1 receive the hinges 6 to which is secured the rectangular frame 7 of the seat which is provided with a seat covering 8 of any suitable form.

The upper ends of the legs 2 receive a special fitting in the form of a plate 9 at one end portion of which is hingedly connected the hinge plate 10 to which is secured the end of the side portions 11 of the back of the seat, which are joined by the transverse bars 12 in completing the formation of the seat back. These plates 9 secured to each of the legs 2 are formed oppositely to one another, although provided with similar parts and have plate projections 13, as illustrated particularly in Figure 3, extending forwardly from the upper edge of the plate 9 throughout the major portion of the length thereof to form a support for the rear frame bar 14 of the seat, while the free edge of the plate portions 13 are formed with upstanding projections 15 adapted to engage the inner edges of the bar 1 1 to prevent the folding of the seat during the use thereof.

A pair of bar members 16 are hingedly connected to plates 17 mounted on the side bars 11 of the back of the seat which are adjacent to the pipe portions 10 as illustrated in Figure 1, while the opposite ends of these bars 16 are hingedly connected to plates 18 secured to the upper end portions of the legs 1 adjacent to the hinges 6. These bars extend in angular relation to the frame 7 of the seat, as illustrated in Figure 1 and form a means for retaining the back of the seat in proper position for supporting the back of the user, while at the same time distributing the stress appliedin a downward direction on the: legs. in a lateral direction through the seat opposite to the stress exerted on the. seat and also-on-the projections 15 under the action of the weight applied to the seat.

From this chair construction it will be seen that a folding chair hasbeen p-rovided, in which the minimum stress is applied on the disengageable connection between the seat and the plate 18-having the projections loduring the use thereof, and which may be folded by raising therear edge of the seat to clear the projections 15- following s which the grasping of the forward edge of the seat, and the upper edge of the backand moving the same toward each other will effect the folding of the legs and the entire chair structure in a most convenient and easy manner. The distribution of the stresses resulting from the application of weight to the seat inthe extended position of the chair which would normally be centered onthe pivot pin of the leg and the projection 15 due to the downward actionof the weight, by the bars 16 relieves thestrain on the two points above mentioned tion so that a structure of'the chair may be made-wherei-nit maybe substantially light, and yet have a maximum strength in accordance with that of thematerial used.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is':

As a new product of manufacture, a speeia-l hinge adapted to be-used' in association with a foldable chair of the class described. wherein said chair embodies, among'other parts, a back adapted to be hingedly connected to the upper end of the legs of one pair, said hinge embodying pivotally connected leaves, the lower one of whleh 1s provided with an lnwardly extending plate-like extensionhaving a horizontal supporting flange equipped with an upstanding retainmg pro ect1on. I

In testimony whereof I aifix my slgnature.

ORIN 1-1. COLE. 

